Saturday, June 2, 2012

Damien has been gone a month. I know that isn't very long to most people, but to me it feels like decades.

He writes me.

Love letters.

They are poetic, heart-warming, and beautiful. Just like him.

The first time I received a letter from my beloved was three weeks ago. At first, I was a little worried about the contact between us because of, Daddy, and everything, but, Daddy, is never home when the mail comes. I'm not allowed to get the mail. Daddy prefers that he brings it up when he comes home. But before, Damien, left he promised he'd write me so I check the mail every day after my walk. And so far, I've gotten a letter every week.

Today is Friday.

I stand at the end of the drive and sift through the pile of mail. Joy floods through me when I see my name on the envelope and I quickly remove the letter, fold it up, and shove into the pocket of my dress. Then I race up my driveway, my heart beating a million miles a minute. My veins pulsating with anxiousness, and my head swimming with thoughts about reading my lovers words.

I miss him the most when I'm alone in my bed at night. I keep my window open because I think there's small part of me that thinks I'll see him, standing there, beneath the light of the moon, ready to sneak me out and whisk me away to our own little world. A world of him and me. A world of love and beauty. A world without hurt, depression, or misery.
But he never comes.

I know it's because he's thousands of miles away, going along with our plan, readying for our future, but somehow me leaving the window open at night, and pretending that he might show up helps me get through the days without him better.

Pouncing on my bed, I squeal like a giggly child as I shred the envelope and pull out it's contents. Something metal and shiny falls on to my thin, yellow blanket and I pick it up. A heart-shaped locket. I hold it up, watching the sunlight beaming in from the window as it dances along the metal surface. The sun touches it in spots making it shimmer and I suck in a deep breath, overwhelmed by its beauty.

There's separate piece of paper apart from the letter. I open it slowly and tears sting my eyes as I read it.

Summary:
Sometimes love...can drive you crazy.
Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't be more opposite.
Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.
Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.
Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.
And they had a plan.
They were going to run away.
Be together forever.
And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.
Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...
She wants out.
And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.
And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...
That one true love never dies.

About Lauren:
It all began with a dinosaur, a T-Rex to be exact. He was the main character in my very first short story. Me and T, well, we went places. He is the reason I won my first essay contest at age ten. And he is probably one of the number one reasons, I pursued a career in writing.

Throughout highschool, I was what you would call a rebel. Someone who had convinced herself that she had life figured out at age sixteen. Still, writing was my only safe-haven during that time. I wrote notebooks full of poetry, even writing fellow classmates papers for them.

Unbeknowest to me, creative writing, seemed to be my one, true calling, my passion in life.
At age twenty, I began writing my first novel. After that, everything seemed to fall into place.
I won Best Poets and Poems of 2007, and The Editor's Choice award for my poem, Summer Days.
Also, during that time I wrote or co-wrote fifteen different screenplays, some which earned me finalist spot in various screenplay competitions.

In 2010, I've come full force, with my novel Love Sucks, that was released by Punkin House Press, in August of 2010. On top of Love Sucks, I have six novels that are slated to be released through the next five years. Also, doing some various marketing work for authors and publishers.

I pride myself in telling fellow writers to always follow their dreams. Who knows where I would be if I would have given up.

This giveaway is for 1 e-copy of Insanity. It's open US/International. You must be at least 13 years old to enter. Please view my giveaway/contest rules before entering. You must fill out the form below. Good Luck! Be sure to check out the next tour stop @ http://paranormalwastelands.blogspot.com/